The Cape Premier Yearling Sale will be at the forefront of most racing minds today with a national programme that boasts no feature events. There is plenty of competitive racing on the agenda though and an eight race card is hosted at Kenilworth today.
Kenilworth Racecourse
The Cape fields are disappointing – 53 runners in 8 races is hardly going to get anybody excited. And many will no doubt be focussing on Turffontein.
In the first race, the start of the Bipot at 12h40, Paul Reeves saddles Big Boy Benji, who he tells us will still be dumb and green and will need and is looking for further.
The Kenilworth Place Accumulator opens in the second with an MR 88 Handicap over a mile where the small field of four could be an easy first step for exotic players.
Brett Crawford – Carbon Offset is a runner
Brett Crawford’s Carbon Offset has won 3 races and has been on the fringes in his three return runs since returning from KZN. The son of Gimmethegreenlight meets Dean Kannemeyer’s Summer Sky on 4kgs better terms for a 2 length beating over 200m shorter at his penultimate start.
Problematic starter Rikitikitana has blotted his promise and copybook on numerous occasions with his delinquent starting antics. Currently racing off an 84, he would only need to jump and run to his better ability (he peaked at 93) to have a shout. He should strip fit.
Dean Kannemeyer’s classy Trippi gelding Summer Sky carries top weight and gets the services of the top-class Richard Fourie. While probably at his best at 1400m, the 4yo stayed on well under 2 lengths behind Queen’s Plate contender Fifty Cents last time and is fit and in form. He sees out the mile and is a game sort.
Harold with ‘assistant trainer’ Courtney (pic: Tracy Robertson)
Harold Crawford’s Perovskia confirmed his improved form with a gutsy win over Bobby Dazzler at Durbanville last time out. The Russian Sage gelding is above average and a serious runner in this small field.
Carbon Offset may be fit enough to register his fourth win and is a narrow selection to beat Summer Sky.
On the balance of the card, there are a few runners of interest.
Marion Belle, the impressive recent maiden winning daughter of champion Australian sire Snitzel, has her third start in the fifth race, an MR 68 Handicap over 1000m. The Ridgemont Racing Team will no doubt be hoping that the A$560 000 purchase can progress and take the next step up with a smooth win. The nicely bred 4yo certainly has better things written all over her.
The SA Oaks runner-up Oriental Oak has not quite found her form in her last few starts but the Glen Kotzen-trained daughter of Silvano drops a few rungs to an MR 85 Handicap over 1700m, where she carries top weight in a field of six.]
Richard Fourie ((Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Richard Fourie could get Colin Bird’s good daughter to score a confidence building victory. She probably has most to fear from the supremely consistent Brave Move, who is an ATM on four legs. The Adam Marcus-trained daughter of Horse Chestnut has outstanding form.
The final race, which ends earlier than normal at 16h45, in order to allow salesgoers to make their way to the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the opening session of the 2018 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, is a tricky Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate over 1800m. Quite a few are lightly raced and showing signs of some form – so Pick 6 players may want to go wide. There is nothing worse than dipping out in the last!
